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09/27/2010

Up to a few weeks ago, computer viruses were an issue for every person who uses a computer. People knew that they exist and people have been getting infected by them daily. Yet, for the regular John Doe, who is not an IT guy, it looked like another problem that can be solved by using an anti virus software or in the worst case, by formatting the machine and re-installing the OS.

Then, if you’ve been keeping a proper backup, you had less worries, but in the bottom line, computer viruses, in the eye of the regular user, have their own domain, which is the internet.

Last June we started hearing about a new virus – the Stunext, a Trojan/Worm, which is able to affect specific Siemens control systems. This virus was not written in order to use a person’s email/computer power or to steal passwords. This virus was able to monitor, track, update and change the operation parameters of real systems that we use in our daily life (not the cyber life). It could change train traffic, power plants and even nuclear plants.

There is no doubt that this specific Trojan was written for a specific use and in order to target specific systems in specific countries. The question it raises is, what will be next?

Will a crime organization be able to take control of our train systems? Maybe it will be able to shut down a whole city power supply?

The Stunext Trojan/Worm is only marking the beginning of a new era in cyber crime, a new generation of viruses that will affect our lives offline, outside the cyber space.